Gun barrel



Jan. 20, 1931. J. D. PEDERSEN 1,789,835

GUN BARREL Original Filed June 9, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 20, 1931.

J. D. PEDERSEN GUN BARREL Original Filed June 9, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vmm E,

.P NR [a if Q a} Q OmUQQ 3 O0 00 W0 lllllllllll'lll I'll Illlllll l I Il IIIIIIIIIIIIIKIYIIIII lllllvlvllll Patented Jan. 20, 1931 PATENTOFFICE Y JOHN D. PEDERSEN, F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS GUN 3mm.

Original application filed June 9, 1927, Serial No. 197,718. Divided andthis application filed Kay 7, 1928.

aerial No. 275,751.

This invention relates to improvemnts in guns or rifles, and thisapplication is a division of my application filed"June 9, 1927 underSerial No. 197,718.

The object of the invention is the provision of simple and effectivemeans for coolin the gun barrel, and for guarding the ban of the soldierfrom contact with a hot barrel.

With this object in view, the invention consists in certain features ofconstruction and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter describedin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

ig. 1 is a side elevation of a complete gun embodying the presentimprovements there- Fig. 2 is a plan of the same' Fig. 3 is a detailview in elevation of the rear part of the gun barrel showing the cool-.a ing fins thereof;

Fig. 4 is a view looking at the underside of the metal hand guard-orcover for the barrel; and

Fig. 5 is a detail section along line 5-5 of Fig. 3 as it would appearwith the cover of Fig. 4 in place upon the barrel of Fig. 3. Referringto the drawings in detail, 1 is the usual wooden stock or frame for thegun, having a forward grasping portion 1' 2 is so the metal part of thegun frame or receiver; and 3 is the barrel secured to receiver 2 in asuitable manner and having a front sight 4. The stock 1 and the forwardpart of the barrel areheld together in the usual manner. by a 85 lowerband 5 and upper band 6.

As shown in Fig. 8, the rear portion of the barrel 3 of the gun isformed with a plu- Y rality of cooling fins 13 projecting outwardly fromaround its circumference, said fins extending longitudinally of thebarrel in the form of a helix. Preferably the cooling fins are equallyspaced apart throughout their length so as to have a parallel relationand the angle of inclination for said helical fins is approximately,that is, an imaginary plane at right angles to the axis of the barrelwould be intersected by each fin at approximately 45. The advantages ofemploying such helically disposed fins with approximately this angle ofinclination are that they reinforce and impart stiffening strength tothe barrel and at the same time permit free circulation of air entirelyaround the barrel for the cooling 'efl'ect desired. The helical fins 13extend lengthwise of the barrel from a I compared with the wallthiclmess of the barrel 3 (as shown in Fig. 5) in order to reduce weightand provide a large number of ribs around the barrel for the moreefiective cooling thereof.

The forward part of 'the gun stock 1 underlies the gun barrel, and theupper "side of said barrel is arranged to be covered by a metal handguard 12 mounted so as to be insulated therefrom by air spacing. In thisway, the fin section of the barrel is completely covered and guardedagainst direct contact by the hand of the soldier. The wooden underlyingstock portion 1 furnishes sufficient insulation for heat from theunderside of the barrel; and the metal'cover 12 is so mounted in spacedrelation with the barrel as to provide a suitable protection for theupper side thereof.

The metal cover 12, preferably stamped out of sheet metal, is formedwith a substantially flat imperforate top portion 15 extendin along thetop of the barrel and with perforate spring tensioned side portions 14adapted to have anembracing grip on the barrel. The imperforate flattopportion prevents heatwaves from rising directly in the line of sightand is of assistance in more quickly catching the front sight of the gunin aiming. The lower edges of the side portions 14 are inwardly turnedto provide stiffening ribs 18 and 19, which are formed with extensions(as shown at 20, 21 and 22 in Fig. 4) for bearing contact against thesides of the finned portion of the barrel and thus keep the main part ofthe I cover spaced from the barrel. The rear end of the cover 15 has adownwardly turned lip 17 for engaging in a groove 17' at the rear ofsaid barrel 3 to prevent endwise movement of the cover; and the inwardlyturned extensions 20 of said flanges 18 and 19 are adapted to snap withspring tension into engagement with grooves 20 of the barrel, as shownin Fig. 3, to detachably secure the rear end of the cover to the barrel.The front end of the cover is provided with a depressed tongue portion16 adapted for insertion in a mortise recess provided in the rear sideof lower band 5. v

In mounting the cover on the barrel, the tongue portion 16 is firstinserted in its mortise recess of the lower band 5 and then the rear endof said cover is struck or pressed downwardly hard enough to spring itssides 14 outwardly over the rear end of said barrel until the extensions20 come into engagement with the grooves 20, when they will springinwardly for secure engagement therewith. The cover will thus be heldupon the barrel by a spring tension engagement of its sides and may beeasily pried loose when de sired. It is held spaced from the barrelthroughout the greater portion of its area and comes in contact with thebarrel only at its front end. rear end and at the side extensions 20, 21and 22. The air can thus freely circulate between the cover and thebarrel for cooling the latter. The purpose of having the helical fins 13disposed at an angle of inclination of approximately 45 is so that afree circulation will be provided from the underside of the barrel whereit is partially covered and closed by the wooden stock 1 to the upperside of the barrel and out through the perforations of the cover 12. Itwill be observed that by this angle of inclination, the plurality ofchannel passages are provided around the barrel, leading from theunderside thereof to the upper side thereof, which prevent any pocketingof air on the underside of the barrel.

The proper angle of inclination for the helical fins enables them bothto provide the.

desirable circulating passages for the air around the barrel and also toact as stiifening means for the barrel lengthwise. which is a verydesirable feature in preventing the distortion or bending of the barrelunder the severe use to which it is subjected in actual service.

What I claim is:

1. A gun comprising in combination, a barrel having a plurality ofcooling fins projecting outwardly from around its circumference. awooden stock underlying said fins and a metal hand guard overlying saidfins and mounted in spaced relation thereto, said hand guard having aflat imperforate top portion and perforated side portions.

2. A gun comprising in combination, a barrel and a wooden stock, anupper band and a lower band for holding the same together. a perforatedmetal hand guard insulated from said barrel by air spacing. and securedthereto by a mortise engagement with the lower band. and a spring-clampengagement with the rear part of said barrel.

3. A gun comprising in combination, a barrel. a hand guard mounted onsaid barrel in spaced relation thereto, said cover comprising a flatimperforate top portion located along the top of said barrel and springtensioned perforated side portions with interengaging tongue and grooveelements between said cover and said barrel for detachably retainingsaid cover in place under the spring tension of said side portions.

4. A gun comprising in combination, a barrel. a stock embracing thelower side of the barrel. and a cover plate embracing the upper side ofsaid barrel. said barrel being formed with a plurality of relativelythin cooling fins projecting from its circumference in a helicaldisposition and forming in conjunction with said stock a plurality ofair cooling passages leading from the lower side to the upper side ofsaid barrel. said cover plate having perforations therein for venting tothe atmosphere the upper portions of said air cooling passages.

5. A gun comprising in combination, a barrel. a stock embracing thelower side of said barrel. and a cover plate embracing the upper side ofsaid barrel. said barrel being formed for a part of its length fromadjacent the breech thereof with a plurality of relatively thin coolingfins projecting from its circumference in a helical disposition andforming in conjunction with said stock a plurality of air coolingpassages leading from the lower side to the upper side of said barrel,said cover plate having perforations distributed lengthwise thereof forventing to-the atmosphere the upper portions of said air coolingpassages throughout the length of the finned portion of said barrel.

6. A gun comprising in combination, a barrel. a stock embracing thelower side ofsaid barrel. and a cover plate embracing the upper side ofsaid barrel, said barrel being formed with a plurality of relativelythin cooling fins projecting from its circumference in a helicaldisposition and forming in conjunction with said stock a plurality ofair cooling passages leading from the lower side to the upper side ofsaid barrel, said cover plate being formed with a fiat imperforate topand perforated sides for venting to the atmosphere the upper portions ofsaid air cooling passages.

7 A gun comprising in combination, a barrel, a stock embracing the lowerside of said barrel, and a detachable cover plate embracing the upperside of said barrel, said barrel being formed with a plurality ofrelatively signature. v

I JOHN D. PEDERSEN.

